Volunteer Opportunities

Monitor local media: The DFL Communications and Research department greatly benefits from volunteers monitoring their local media and reporting their findings to the DFL Headquarters. Here are some ways that you can report the findings in your local media:

Read your local papers and clip and mail in articles that you think would be important information for us to have. Especially valuable are articles that describe positions of politicians and/or candidates, have quotes, or explain legislation. Make sure to write the date the article appeared and the publication it came from.

Watch your local stations and record or take notes on segments that are important. Again, make sure to include the station and date and time.

Listen to local and national talk radio programs. Write down any information that you think may be relevant, as well as the general tone of the program. Make sure to write down the station, program, and time of the broadcast. Also, call in on issues that you think are important. Make your voices heard!

You can email your findings to news@dfl.org or mail articles to Minnesota DFL Attn: Communications, 255 East Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107

Write Letters to the Editor: Writing letters to the editor to your local paper is an excellent way to represent the DFL. You are always encouraged to write letters in response to articles, to support candidates, to refute arguments or to express your opinion on a particular issue. You can also sign up for Action Alerts on the front page of our website. These alerts will give you information on an issue and help you write a letter.

Phone: Phoning is a critical part of any campaign, and is also a volunteer activity between campaign cycles. Volunteer phoners are very valuable for many projects, including to identify voters, giving information about a candidate, giving information about volunteering and/or events in their area, verifying contact information, reminding them to vote and answering questions.

Event Set-Up/Clean-Up: The DFL has many events through the year and we always need volunteers to help set up and tear down.

Door-knock: Door-knocking is crucial to our Party. It’s through these one-on-one conversations that we are able to hear from Minnesotans and learn critical information. This activity involved walking door-to-door in a particular area and talking with individuals about a candidate or issue. At the door you will either be trying to persuade the person, ID the person or give information. Sometimes you may do this with an actual candidate and always with another person.

Precinct Caucus Convener: Precinct caucus conveners are needed to help organize DFL precinct caucuses. These volunteers will act as a point person for the County Unit/Senate District Chair in their area. There is only the need for 1 convener per precinct.

DFL State Fair Booth: Volunteers are essential to the success of the State Fair Booth. Volunteers help people register to vote, answer questions from visitors and are the face of the DFL to everyone attending the Minnesota State Fair. As the fair approaches, people will be able to sign up online to help at the fair.

Host an event in your home: There are many reasons to host an event in your home. Local candidates always need places to meet with potential supporters or to raise funds. These are also great venues to host things like debate watch parties or small discussion groups. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors in your community.

Have a Lawn Sign: Show your support for your favorite candidates, there is nothing easier than sticking a sign in your yard. Take note that there is a limited number of these, so think about how much traffic you get and make sure it makes sense to put a sign in your yard. Lawn signs will be available in local campaign and party offices.

Attend Rallies and Events: It is always helpful to have good turnouts for events and rallies. This is also a good way to connect with other DFLers. GO TO EVENTS

GOTV: Get Out the Vote. These are campaign activities related to the last few days of a campaign and involve numerous ways to remind people to go vote and where (phoning, door-knocking, visibility, etc.)

Serve as an Election Judge: Election judge are the people responsible for administering election procedures in the voting place on election day. The DFL does not assign election judges, but we provide lists of volunteers to your local township board or city council to choose from.

Translate.Interpret: If you speak a second language, your services can be very helpful. The DFL always has the need to help translate materials or help someone on election day to interpret for them.

About the Minnesota DFL

The Minnesota DFL supports and elects leaders who embody the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party and the people of Minnesota. We work to enact policies so that all Minnesotans, regardless of background, have the rights of: stable employment, fair wages, quality education, accessible and affordable healthcare, living in safe communities, providing for their family, and retiring with dignity and security.